VIDEO

NASHVILLE - Inspired by Texas legislation, state Sen. Stacey Campfield has introduced a "Merry Christmas bill" for Tennessee that he says will assure schoolchildren and their teachers have a legal right to use what the bill calls "traditional greetings" during "winter celebrations."

"This stops all these silly lawsuits that say you can't say 'merry Christmas' or 'happy Hanukkah' or have a Christmas tree," said Campfield, R-Knoxville, who has pre-filed SB1425 for consideration by the General Assembly in 2014.

While unaware of a specific case where Christmas has become an issue in Tennessee schools, the senator said he knows of people "afraid of lawsuits" and passage of the bill would provide them with reassurance.